Ended up spending ten days at Sundown Point, a few cold, wet days but mostly good, relaxfull, sunny days. Found some aboriginal carvings in the rocks, we were told they were there but took a while to find them.

 

Made our way back to Smithton to stock up on supplies and water because this is the closest town with a supermarket and it’s not that far anyway. Then back to the west coast.

On the way back to the coast we took a small detour up into the hills and found a nice spot to call home for the night.

 

Reached the turnoff to the western explorer HI way, all gravel, and headed off southward towards Corinna. This road we haven’t done before.

 

 

 

About ten km down the Balfour Track crosses the road, you can turn left and go to the deserted old mining town of Balfour, about three or four km in on the 4wd track. So we did. It was an overcast showery day, the track was small and very rough. About 2.8k in and the weather and track getting worse, we decided to leave Balfour for another day, so found a place to turn around and headed back to the main road.

Not too far up the main road we came to a creek crossing with a camp site off the road, so pulled up and set up camp.

 

Gidday all,

Left for the west coast, stopped just out of Burnie at a rest stop overnight, did a bit of shopping in Burnie next day and headed on. Followed the north coast and ducked off here and there exploring little roads leading to the beaches.

Next camp was at Green point near Marrawah on the northwest coast, nice spot but too many campers about so moved on the next day.

 

Next camp was at Green point near Marrawah on the northwest coast, nice spot but too many campers about so moved on the next day.

Did a few more side roads to the beaches and stopped at west point for lunch. The wild, west coast, the big surf with spray being blown off the crests, the wind rushing up the cliffs, a wonderful sight from the comfort of the camper cab.

 

drove down a small 4wd track down to a couple of beach shacks which dot the coastline. There are official  tags nailed to the doors saying they are registered as structures built on crown land.

 

Next stop Arthur River, the gateway to Arthur-Pieman Conservation Area. Stopped in at the ranger station and inquired about the tracks and permits required. They had a look at the truck and said due to the risk of quicksand on the beaches and closed in scrub on most of the tracks it was most inadvisable to take it on them, so we would be restricted to the main roads. Not really a problem as you can access most of the beaches this way anyway.

Carried on down the coast, again ducking down side roads here and there. Came to Nelson Bay, a little fishing bay with quite a few beach huts about. Up a rough track, we came to Sundown Point, the winding sandy track opened onto a grassy open area where the track led off down to the beach.

We decided this would be a nice spot to call home for a few days, so set up camp in the back corner, no one about. The camp was behind large sand dunes protected from the wind, which can be wild at times. Also next to a creek which winds around and empties its tannin stained water into the bay.

Washing, showering, long walks on the beach and generally enjoying the environment the order of the days ahead.

 

 

Gidday all,

Wound our way across to Launceston and found a parts place that stocked what I needed for the spring repairs. There was a Salvos store next door hwo had new inner spring mattresses going cheap, so we bit the bullet and got one for our bed. Left our old foam one with them and headed back to Devonport. Did some more looking about, then off to find a camp for the night.

Our friends just south of Loongana offered to help with repairs to the truck springs, so next day headed up and did them. All went very smoothly and now all’s good as new.

 

Fire meeting on Sunday, so up the range to the fire shed we went. Was good to catch up with the locals we had met on our previous trips and a couple of new ones. The duck seemed to enjoy herself too. Had a few beers and camped at the fire shed that night, great time had by all.

Up to Sandy’s next day and she stocked us up with salad and veggies from her garden as well as fresh eggs, great fresh local produce, love Tassie food.

We plan to head to the west coast and tour about till just before the school holidays start, then back up to our camp site on the Loongana range and hide from the holiday crowds. Well, that’s the plan so far.

 

 

Gidday all,

Left Forth and climbed the rangers to Loongana to visit our friend Sandy, while there I wandered to the pond outside the house and there swimming happily was a platerpuss, spent a long time watching him swim and dive around, how lucky. Stayed a couple of days then took off for Deloraine, they had a craft fair on, so we went to check it out. Some interesting stuff, looked around, had some lunch and moved on.

 

We knew of a nice spot not far away at Liffey Falls so headed there to spend a couple of days. Only a couple of campers there when we arrived so picked a good spot. Not long after they all left one by one, so we were left alone. Had one overcast, rainy day then the sun came out the next day so out went the washing and up went the pop up shower and we were set. Next day was cold and rainy again, getting used to Tassie weather again. I think the duck is loving it though.

Going to head back to Loongana for the monthly fire meeting on the weekend and catch up with the local crew. Have to call into Launceston or Devonport to pick up some front spring bushes for the truck as I noticed a clunk while driving and found a worn bush when inspecting the front end. Will replace them while we are back at Loongana.

 

Gidday all,

Thursday morning, drove onto Tassie soil. The seas were calm and the crossing uneventful, had to give up some firewood at Melbourne that we had in the storage boxes on the truck which I forgot about, not a problem.

 

The duck in the photo? A long story. She will be our traveling companion for the trip.

Went to Forth to catch up with our friend Rod, stayed the night and he showed us how to catch whitebait from the river. Back to cooler weather tops of around 18s expected. Will go and stock up on fruit and veg and a few other things and head to the mountains to catch up with some other friends and work out our next plan of attack.

 

 

Gidday all,

Set the GPS to a spot the other side of Melbourne and set off onto the freeway. Getting to the city bypass and it said there was an accident up ahead and it had found another route, we had to go through the city. No problems, just followed the directions and came out the other side and onto the freeway again. Sometimes you just have to trust the GPS.

 

We found a campsite in a forest about 40k from where we were headed and camped up for a couple of days. Lots of bright red parrots around.

 

Headed off on Friday to catch up with our friends at Wonthaggi. Spent the weekend catching up and seeing the sights. Went over to Phillip Island and around the coast.

The weather has been up and down, sunny, hot, overcast, cold, and windy, that was only Saturday. Will hang around till Wednesday morning then go into Melbourne ready to catch the ferry that evening. Hope the seas are calm.

Gidday all,

Left Hopetoun on Sunday, came to Warracknabeal,a small town on the road south. There were some street stalls in the main street, so after fuelling up we went to investigate. Bought some indigenous herbs and some quondong cordial, both yummy. Then went to the pub grounds where they were having a slow cooked ribs cooking comp. The product produced was free to try, so we filled up on ribs of all flavours, also yummy. Had a coffee and a look around and headed off.

Ended up at Little Desert National Park just outside Dimboola, no one about so camped up for the night. In the morning went exploring some sandy tracks in the park, the one we wanted to take to continue south was closed, so back to Dimboola and on the hiway again.

Spent the day on the hiway to Ballarat, would rather be on the dirt, passed through Ballarat after stocking up on fresh veggies, which we were low on since the border. Found a camp about 40k out in a state forest.

Will get a bit closer to Melbourne and hold up for a few days, then go and see our friends till we float over to Tassie next Wednesday.

 

Gidday all,

We were going to explore the park further, but decided the weather was getting a bit hot to stay, and we only had a week left to get to Melbourne and catch up with our friends before getting on the ferry to Tassie. Woke up in the morning and it was overcast and cold, what a turnaround. Anyway, heard on the radio, a music festival was on in Patchewollock, not to far away. So headed off in that direction.

 

Nice little town, pub, shop, and well, that’s about it. A small crowd gathered around a couple singing on the main stage in the pubs grounds, camp ovens on the coals, cooking the nights meals.

 

Friendly people, and a great country atmosphere. Din made a couple of new friends and had a go at playing the banjo. Didn’t hang too long, wanted to find a quiet camp before dark.

Went down to Hopetoun, there’s a lake where you can camp, a few of other campers but nice and quiet. Sunday tomorrow, will spend the morning listening to Macca, then probably head off again towards Ballarat. There’s good phone signal here, so will post this while I can.  

 

Gidday all,

Had a relaxed weekend at Worlds End Gorge, some traffic up and down the dirt road but not to annoying. Headed off on Monday over to Loxton near the border to Victoria. Fuel and water filled up and some supplies on board we made our way east to the border and the entrance to the Murray Sunset National Park.

 

It was late afternoon when we arrived at the border so entering the park we travelled a few hundred meters and found a clearing off the road a bit and stopped for the night. Next morning, travelled about 14k to a spot called the shearing quarters, an old bunkhouse from the sheep station days, with a camp grounds. No one about so decided to stop. Found a tank full of water at the quarters so set up the shower and showered our heads off.

 

Set off in the morning on a small sandy 4wd track heading south along the S. A / Vic. Border on the Vic. Side. Down the track, came to a long, somewhat steep sand dune, stopped to let air out of the tyres and next minute two bikes came up behind and asked if we were okay. I said yes and they rounded us up and struggled up the dune. Tyres down and off up the dune, I think Ned the Winnafarrgo enjoyed showing us what he can do, took it in his stride.

 

Quite a lot of soft sand stretches and a few more sand dunes later we arrived at the Rock holes. The day was warming up so found a tree large enough to give some shade and camped up for the day.

More dunes and soft sand next day as we headed for the Pink Lakes, on the southern border of the park. Ned handled it all well. The days this week are steadily getting hotter, 35 and 36s so trying not to travel in the hottest part, the sand is a lot softer in the heat too.

 

Made it to Pink Lakes, dry salt lakes where the surface has a pink hue in places due to a species of red algae. They only have water in them in the wet season. Camp ground was deserted so we picked a prime spot

They used to harvest the salt here during the dry times and machinery and old stockpiles of salt remain, weathering on the shoreline.

          

 

Gidday all,

Arrived at Blinman, a small outback town with a pub and café, we stopped at the pub as it was lunchtime. Had a nice lunch served by a French backpacker who was working there for a couple of months.

Back to the bitumen for a bit going through the Central Flinders Ranges, didn’t hang long as it’s still school holidays and everyone has gone camping there.

Came into Hawker, a larger size town but still small. Filled up with fuel and water then found a small shop and topped up with some basic supplies. Then decided to leave the bitumen and head onto Orroroo further south, along station roads.

 

Came across our new trailer along the road. Backed up to it and then the station owner turned up and asked if we were lost, I smiled and said no, just wanted to get a photo of the dray. We had a chat and he left us to it.

 

Small town along the way has a claim to fame as having a giant red gum, 10.9m around the trunk, they say it’s 500 years old.

 

Up the road, some bush art, creative people around here.

Wanted to find a place to hold up for the weekend as the school holidays are finished this weekend and the road will probably get busy. Found a camp at Worlds End Gorge, just south of Burra, perfect. The camp area is spaced all along the creek bank, a few campers up one end so we headed to the other end. Set up camp and put the corned beef on the fire to cook.          

 

 

NANTAWARRINA

 

Drove to the turn off to Nantawarrina, you need a permit to travel through there, you self register at the border and put the fee in the box. $30 for the permit and $10 per night camping, you get the first night free with the permit.

 

 

 

Camped at the first campsite about 12k in. Lots of birds and wallabies and bobtail lizards, as well as emus with babies following along.

 

 

 

They have had some rain and sturts desert pea and numerous other wild flowers are everywhere. Beautiful country.

 

We had two days at the first campsite then moved on to a campsite 25k down the road, no one for miles. This was our last night as we had paid for three nights. On the way out in the morning we passed a dam they call orange tree dam, had some smoko and got out the yabby pot, 15 minutes later, hauled in the catch. Guess what I had for tea that night, Din had salad.